Compare towns
Saugus vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Saugus | Derby | Plainfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,773Highest |
12,487Lowest |
15,141 |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Derby and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,049 94% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Saugus | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Saugus High | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.